Kosovo and Cuba
- By Doug Coleman
- Published 02/22/2008
Doug Coleman
I like simplicity. I write about simple things like easy (simple) time management and customer service without slogans, just good sense. I enjoy auto racing, opera, jazz, puppies, and sunsets. There's nothing better than a glass of wine watching a brilliant sunset listening to Oscar Peterson's piano. Life is good.
It has been a few days since my last posting, but that hasn't stopped the daily headlines. I listen to CNN news during my 20 mile commute each way and I am constantly amazed by the things I hear. Two in particular struck me as typical of our current administration. One was the break away of Kosovo and the other the resignation of Fidel Castro. They both were greeted with the same blindness and evangelism that has been so notable in this administration.
When Kosovo declared its independence from Serbia on Friday, our government immediately gave diplomatic recognition to Kosovo as a sovereign country with praise for its establishment of democracy. As any rational person would expect, Kosovo's declaration of independence and then our government's immediate recognition was greeted in Serbia by outrage, demonstrations, and the attack and burning of our embassy. Our recognition of Kosovo was a thumb in the eye of Serbia. Political evangelists in our government who believe our form of government is the only legitimate form because it is our form of government add fuel to the firestorm of anger toward our country. Democracy is our form of government and it usually works for us. Remember, it is the form of government that allowed this administration to plunge us into war that destroyed thousands of lives
and has accomplished nothing but death and destruction and, more importantly, the destruction of our place of respect and envy in the world.
Over the past seven years we have seen many examples of this political myopia. I am reminded of Japan's Admiral Yamamoto when asked if he could attack and destroy the U.S. Navy at Pearl Harbor. He responded with this wisdom, "Yes, but what then?" We advocate democracy where it doesn't exist. We advocate democracy instead of peace. I don't care how my neighbor runs his household (within reason, of course) as long as he and I are at peace.
When Fidel Castro resigned, the press was full of government statements hoping that now, Cuba will become a democracy. I have yet to hear how we, as claimed humanitarians, think first of the form of government and not the welfare of the people as though they were separate and independent conditions. Why can't our government see that relaxing the embargoes would help the Cuban economy, create better paying jobs, and start raising the condition of the Cuban citizens. Democracy at all costs has already cost our country more then we should have to pay. One of the first principles of negotiation is to give first and get second. If we help the people of Cuba by helping their economy, we will be giving them reasons and resolve to consider democracy for themselves. We can't do it for them.
When Kosovo declared its independence from Serbia on Friday, our government immediately gave diplomatic recognition to Kosovo as a sovereign country with praise for its establishment of democracy. As any rational person would expect, Kosovo's declaration of independence and then our government's immediate recognition was greeted in Serbia by outrage, demonstrations, and the attack and burning of our embassy. Our recognition of Kosovo was a thumb in the eye of Serbia. Political evangelists in our government who believe our form of government is the only legitimate form because it is our form of government add fuel to the firestorm of anger toward our country. Democracy is our form of government and it usually works for us. Remember, it is the form of government that allowed this administration to plunge us into war that destroyed thousands of lives
Over the past seven years we have seen many examples of this political myopia. I am reminded of Japan's Admiral Yamamoto when asked if he could attack and destroy the U.S. Navy at Pearl Harbor. He responded with this wisdom, "Yes, but what then?" We advocate democracy where it doesn't exist. We advocate democracy instead of peace. I don't care how my neighbor runs his household (within reason, of course) as long as he and I are at peace.
When Fidel Castro resigned, the press was full of government statements hoping that now, Cuba will become a democracy. I have yet to hear how we, as claimed humanitarians, think first of the form of government and not the welfare of the people as though they were separate and independent conditions. Why can't our government see that relaxing the embargoes would help the Cuban economy, create better paying jobs, and start raising the condition of the Cuban citizens. Democracy at all costs has already cost our country more then we should have to pay. One of the first principles of negotiation is to give first and get second. If we help the people of Cuba by helping their economy, we will be giving them reasons and resolve to consider democracy for themselves. We can't do it for them.
